The year is 2014, the halls are buzzing with excited new students, and then sophomore Maddie Dettling is laying face down on the stairs leading up from the gym to the pool. Dettling can easily recall one of her most embarrassing moments: tragically falling up the staircase trying to get to her first class of the day. Now a junior, she has little time to fall up stairs between her busy schedule of traveling the world, trying new clubs and sports and even meeting celebrities.

It is no surprise that Dettling will be joining The Sentry staff, seeing as her favorite subject in school is English and she has always had a passion for writing and reading.

“I really like writing and I had Ms. Wiedemann and she was a really cool teacher for freshman year,” said Dettling. “I’ve always seen myself being a journalist in a way, because it seems like a really good way to spread information and I always read articles online.”

Throughout her time in high school thus far she has been a part of various different activities. She has participated in crew, field hockey and now is a part of the tennis team in the Spring. She also plans to start Habitat for Humanity this year. Along with her extracurriculars, she has a particular interest in the environment. Dettling has been vegan for about a year now and claims that it has really peaked her interest in animals and preserving the environment.

Not only has Dettling made an impact on the Arlington community, she has always ventured across land and sea to explore other corners of the world. This past summer she stayed with a close friend in London and it became her new favorite place on the map. During her trip, she even had the chance to meet a real-life A-lister: Bradley Cooper.

“My friend saw his play in London like a month before I came but he was sick that day, so then we just went when I was there and stood at the back door and got to meet him,” said Dettling.

When asked who her celebrity crush is, she initially responded with the infamous Harry Styles. She now remarks that Cooper has made his way up there.

“Now he’s like my number one,” said Dettling.

After what is sure to be an amazing time on The Sentry staff, Dettling is bound to become a famous environmental journalist, busy traveling the world and dating Bradley Cooper.

Take a step in Natalie Reich’s Birkenstocks as she strides confidently into Room 249 for eighth period. After flashing a friendly smile at a few Sentry staff members, she takes her place at the front of the room to talk about the day’s activities.

It’s no surprise Reich became head editor her senior year, as she embodies the independence of her favorite Disney Princess, Jasmine, and the approachability of her spirit animal, a big, fluffy dog. She has spread her enthusiasm for journalism on the Sentry staff for three years now, after being recruited by English teacher and newspaper sponsor Chrissy Wiedemann herself during her freshman English class.

When asked about her most embarrassing moment, Reich described a time when she tripped up the stairs while rushing to a class. But it wasn’t a typical fall: “I probably tripped, like, four times,” Reich said with a laugh.

Outside of The Sentry and working to get into her dream school, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Reich enjoys rowing for the Crew team. She recalled her proudest moment from her entire rowing career.

“It was a freshman boat, so it was all of my friends on the boat with me, and we got second at States. We beat a few teams that we had lost to, and that’s just the best feeling,” Reich said.

If Reich had to do one thing for the rest of her life, she would be “working with people”. She loves being around others, especially kids. She had the opportunity to do just that while working as a counselor in training at Camp Silver Beach during this past summer. Reich described the experience as “exhausting, but so rewarding.”

“I’ve been going to the camp since I was eight, so this was my ninth summer, but my first as a counselor.” Reich said.

While her time at Yorktown is coming to a close, Reich continues to treat every day with the same upbeat attitude she had on her first day of freshman year. Reich is a huge part of the Patriot community, and her enthusiasm is contagious. As for her favorite memory? Working at the Sentry, of course!